Graham



March 3, 1964 GRAHAM TUBE REINFORCING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21. 1961 INVENTOR. Arthur Graham 2 M @ca ub Attorneys March 3, 1964 A. GRAHAM TUBE REINFORCING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1961 INVENTOR. Arthur Graham J LQQZMED Attorneys March 3, 1964 A. GRAHAM TUBE REINFORCING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 21. 1961 INVENTOR. A rrhur Graham Attorneys March 3, 1964 A. GRAHAM 3,122,977

TUBE REINFORCING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1961 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. Arthur Graham Attorneys March 3, 1964 A. GRAHAM TUBE REINFORC'ING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1961 H@ m 2 J A Horneys United States Patent '0 3,122,977 TUBE REHWFGRUWG MACEWE Arthur Graham, 1548 Edgewood Drive, lalo Alto, (Zalif. Filed lune 21, B61, Ser. No. 118,627 17 (Ilaims. (Cl. 93-77) This invention relates to a tube reinforcing machine and is particularly concerned with a machine of this character for use in connection with drinking straws or tubes of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 97,690, filed March 22, 1961.

Drinking straws or tubes are widely used as a means to draw or sip beverages from a container, being used by children as well as adults. As pointed out in my aforementioned copending application, a particular difficulty encountered in the use of such straws or tubes is a tendency of the mouth or tip of the straw to deform under the pressure of the lips or fingers of the user. In addition, the cut end of the conventional paper straw tends to absorb moisture by capillary action, causing deterioration and loss of strength at this point of greatest use. The usual result is the collapse of the straw tip to obstruct the fluid pass so that it becomes virtually impossible to draw liquid into the mouth.

in general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tube reinforcing machine, and particularly such a machine which can be used with the conventional drinking straw, by which an end of the tube can be reinforced to prevent its collapse during use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tube or straw reinforcing machine of the above type which functions to fabricate the reinforced end or tip solely from the material of the straw.

Another obiec't of the invention is to provide a tube or straw reinforcing machine of -e above character which is fully automatic in operation and which operates to fabricate a reinforced tip on one or both ends of the straw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube reinforcing machine of the above character which opcrates in continuous fashion to carry individual tubes through the machine in successive operating steps, so that the tips or ends of the tubes are reinforced and then passed to further processing such as applying an impregnating surface coating.

It is frequently desirable to provide drinking straws other thin-walled tubing with a flexible portion so that the straw or tubing may be bent during use without substantially reducing the internal diameter of the straw.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a tube or straw reinforcing machine which will also operate to render an intermediate portion of the tube or straw flexible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube reinforcing and flexing machine of the above character which is f lly automatic in operation, and which oper tes to flex an intermediate portion of the tube or straw simultaneously with operations to reinforce one or both ends thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my new machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawing which:

FlGURE 1 is a view in elevation of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a view in horizontal section along the line .22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a View in vertical section along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View of the machine taken from the left of F GURE l FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of 3,122,??? Patented Mar. 3, 1964 tube engaging drum means illustrating a detail of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view in section illustrating the engagement between a tube and tube end deforming means carried by the drum;

FIGURE 7 is a view like FIGURE 6 illustrating a modification of the invention;

FEGURE 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail View in section and elevation illustrating a reinforced flexible drinking straw of a type capable of being produced by the machine of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view, similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating a modified machine in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a vi w in horizontal section along the line lll1 of FIGURE 19; and

FIGURE 12 is a view in section and elevation of a drinking straw or tube capable of being produced by the modified machine.

in general, the tube reinforcing machine of the present invention operates in conjunction with a prefabricated cylindrical tube such as a drinking straw. Such straws are generally fabricated from spirally Wound and glued straw stock which is cut to desired lengths and coated or dipped in a moisture resistant reinforcing -iiaterial, such as a solidifying wax or plastic composition. The machine performs satisfactorily, however, with any type of thin-walled pliable tubing, for example, uncoated straw stock, extruded plastic, spirally wound cellophane, composition material or even thin pliable metal tubing.

The machine performs the function of turning the end wall of the tube or straw inward upon itself, without tearing, to form an inner concentric reinforcing layer adjacent the end of the tube or straw. By modification, the machine can also be made to reinforce both ends of a tube or straw in the manner described. If desired, the machine can additionally function to flex an intermediate portion of the straw by providing a plurality of circumferential score lines in the outer wall of the straw simultaneously with compression of the straw along its axis, for example as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,985,- 077. In general, the machine is adaptable to any combination of operations involving end reinforcing and fiezdng of an intermediate portion of pliable tubing material.

A preferred embodiment of the machine, illustrated in FlGURES 1 to 6, comprises a frame including respective side frames 10 and 12 spaced apart and supported by a platform 14 and pedestal support frames 16. The frame provides a mounting for means forming the various operating stations in the machine including a tube feeding station 18 having a feed hopper, an end or tip reinforcing station Ztl employing a rotatable drum and cooperating belt means, a corrugating or flexing station 22 making use of a plurality of knife elements, and a tube discharge station 24. Preferably the operations at stations 29 and 22 are carried out simultaneously, although this is not essential.

The drive mechanism for the machine can be conventional and consequently is not shown in detail. In general, it includes a suitable source of power such as an electric motor which functions through a suitable power takeoff belt 26 to drive a pair of endless belts 28 associated with the tip reinforcing station Ztl and through a power takeoff belt 30 to drive an endless belt 32 associated with the discharge station 24. A second motor functions to continuously drive a cam shaft 34 to successively energize the knives at the corrugating station 24. The shaft 34 also operates a chain drive 36 through operation of sprocket 38 (FIGURES 1 and 3) to continu- 3 ously operate a selective feed device, represented by the brushes 40 at the station 18. The second motor also provides drive impetus for an intermittent motion mechanism, preferably of the Geneva type, connected to the shaft 42 of a tube carrying drum 44 at the station 20. The Geneva mechanism effects a stepwise advance of the drum to bring each new tube or straw into position for the simultaneous operations performed at the stations 20 and 22.

The above functions of the drive mechanism, which is described and illustrated in detail in the aforementioned US. Patent No. 2,985,077, will be apparent from the following description of the various operating stations in the machine.

Feed Station As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, straw stock 59 of proper length and diameter is fed to a hopper 52 which is dimensioned to receive a substantial supply of tubular feed material. At its lower periphery, the hopper presents an opening 54 of configuration to receive an upper portion of the rotary drum 44. The latter is provided with a plurality of semicylindrical slots 46 extending lengthwise of the drum and adapted to receive lengths of straw stock through the opening 54 of the hopper. The front wall 55 of the hopper is provided with a lower edge 56 spaced from the drum just sufficiently to permit passage of a single unit of straw stock. A series of upwardly extending recesses 58 are also provided in the wall 55 to receive rotating brush segments 40. The latter rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of drum feed and cooperate with the drum to feed one straw at a time beneath the lower edge of the wall 55.

The intermittent rotation of the drum 44 on its supporting shaft 42 causes the individual units of straw stock to be carried downward in stepwise fashion between the drum and guides 60 positioned in concentric relation adjacent the forward surface of the drum. These guides may be suitably supported by rods 62 carried between the machinery frame members it) and 12. Each straw is thus rotated by the drum to a lowermost position where it is engaged by the mechanisms at the stations 20 and 22.

Tip Reinforcing Station As the units of tubing reach the lowermost position of the drum (indicated at Siia in FIGURES 1 to 8), they are rotatably engaged by one or more friction elements at the tip reinforcing station 20. In the illustrated apparatus the friction elements comprise a pair of endless belts 28 suitably reeved about drive pulleys 70 and idlers 72, and biased against the lower surface of the tubing by the tensioning rollers 74 (FIGURES 1 and 4). The belts 28 are moved at a linearly rate considerably in excess of that of the peripheral speed of the drum 14, and effect a rapid rotation or spinning of each straw or other unit of tubing advanced to the position 50a.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the belts 28 are also angled or inclined to the direction of rotation of the drum 44 with the result that the lowermost tube is simultaneously urged endwise toward one end of the drum 44. The belts thus function to rapidly rotate each tube entering the position 56a, about its own axis, and to move the tube axially toward the right hand end of the drum 44 with substantial force.

Referring to FIGURE particularly, the grooves 46 in the drum are provided with tip engaging means 84 positioned at the ends of the grooves, and in the path of axial movement of the tubes. In a preferred embodiment, the tip engaging means 84 comprise intersecting cylindrical members including a shaft 86 and a head 87 which are smoothly contoured into one another, as indicated in FIGURE 6. To facilitate the mounting of the members 84 in proper relation at the end of the grooves 46 an end plate 85 may be provided having a series of radial grooves 88 adapted to receive the shafts 86 of the tip engaging devices. Suitable means such as set screws 89 may be provided to lock the shafts against rotation within the grooves. Preferably the end plate is removable to permit replacement or repositioning of the various tip engaging means.

As previously noted, the belts 28 function to urge each individual tube toward the end of a groove 46 simultaneously with rapid rotation of the tube about its axis. This motion initially causes the member 84 to urge a portion of the peripheral end wall of the tube inward towards its own axis of rotation, through contact between the end of the tube and the shaft 86 of the tip engaging member, as shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 6. As rotation of the tube continues, the inwardly deformed end wall contacts the head 87 of the tip forming member and is guided and curled inwardly upon itself, as shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 6. These simultaneous operations efl ect a rapid inward deformation of successive peripheral end portions of the tube, followed by a rapid curling of the deformed portions inwardly upon themselves, to form an inner layer 83 concentrically within the remaining portions of the tube, as particularly illustrated in FIGURE 9. During this operation, the inner layer 83 is not broken or torn and consequently forms a substantially rigid reinforcing liner in more or less axial alignment with the rest of the tube. In the case of a drinking straw, the resulting reinforced tip or end 90 possesses substantially increased structural strength, as compared with the tip of a conventional straw, and presents no out ends or fibers adapted to absorb moisture. Where the straw has been previously coated with paraffine or a similar saturating wax, the curled or tipped portion is rendered additionally impervious to moisture. Additional resistance to moisture deterioration, as well as added strength, can be obtained by further applications of wax which tends to fill the space between the inner wall 83 and the body of the straw.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of the tip engaging means, represented at 84a. As shown in the drawings, the modified form comprises a bent wire providing separate shafts 86a. These separate shafts permit mounting of the device to minimize the possibility of misalignment of the head 87a adjacent the end of grooves 46. The modified form functions similarly to the device 84, just described, in that one of the shafts 86a serves to initially deform the end wall of the tube while the curved intersection between the shaft and the head 87a serves to curl the end wall and to guide the same into a concentric position within remaining portions of the tube.

In both modifications so far described, the end plate 85 is provided with grooved recesses 47 which are in substantial alignment with the grooves 46 provided in the rotary drum. The recesses 47 generally function as discharge passages for any wax or other surface coating removed from the ends of the straws and other tubes during the reinforcing operation. As this operation is performed only at one location during rotation of the drum (i.e., position Stla in FIGURES 5 and 6), excess wax or other coating material scraped from the ends of the tubes is easily removed.

C orrugatz'ng Station The corrugating or flexing station 22 is located immediately below the position Sila at station 2% and carries out its operation concurrently with the tip reinforcing operations at station 20. If desired, the corrugating operation at station 22 can be omitted, for example, in the manufacture of conventional drinking straws having reinforced tips.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, the apparatus to corrugate or flex an intermediate portion of the straw com prises a series of pivoted elements or blades 1th) provided. with knife edges 1692 on their upper surfaces. The blades- 1% are pivoted on a cross rod 104, supported between: the side frames 10 and 12, and each is provided with a cam receiving recess 106. A cam follower 168 providedat the upper periphery of this recess rides on the surface of a cam element llil keyed to the shaft 34. A second cam engaging surface 114 is also provided at the bottom of the recess 1%. 11 general, each blade 1% cooperates with a pair of opposed projections 112 provided on the cams lit), which engage the follower 108 and the surface 114 in successive sequence.

In operation, the blades 1&9 ride below the top surface of the belts 2'23 until a tube has been moved into position 5%. At this point the cam projections 112 engage the followers 198 in rapid sequence causing the lmife edges 1&2 to be raised rapidly into engagement with the tube. The tube is simultaneously rapidly rotated against the successive knife edges by the movement of the belts 28. This causes a series of circumferential score lines to be impressed in the outer peripheral wall of the tube, as generally indicated in FIGURE 2. Simultaneously the anal force exerted on the tube by the belts 28 causes the tube to collapse at the score lines to form corrugations. The resulting corrugations are particularly illustrated at 116 in FIGURE 9, which also shows the wall structure at the collapsed score lines 113.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that each rotational contact between a cam projection 112 and a cam follower 193 is of extremely brief duration and is followed by a contact between a lower cam projection 1312 and a blade surface 114. The latter contact causes the blades to be pivoted downward and thereby to be retracted from the surface of the tube. In the illustrated operation (FIGURES l and 2) the right hand blade 363 is first engaged with the tube, following which the blade contacts progress in rapid succession to the left. This sequence of operation is preferred since it permits the decrease in tube length occasioned by the formation of the corrugations to be taken up in the endwise movement of the tubes, without retracting the tubes from the tip engaging members 34.

It whl be recalled that the intermittent motion mechanism connected to the drum shaft 34 produces a stepwise rotation of the drum just suficient to bring each succesive straw into the lowermost position Sila. To insure effective operation of the machine, it is necessary that the continuously rotating shaft 34 rotate in sequence with the movement of the drum. Specifically, in the illustrated apparatus, the shaft 34 rotates 180 at each 30 movement of the drum on its shaft 42. This permits first one and then the other of the cam projections 112 to raise the knife edges 162 into engagement with the tube. Obviously other cam sequences, including different stepwise rates of drum movement, are within the skill of one versed in this art.

The disclosed mechanism for corrugating or flexing an intermediate portion of the straw is described in greater detail in the aforementioned US. Patent No. 2,985,077.

Discharge Station Following the tip forming and flexing operations at stations Ztl and 22, it is necessary to pull the individual tube units off the tip forming elements 84 so that they can be discharged from the machine. This operation is accomplished at the discharge station 24- through operation of the belt 32.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the discharge belt 32 is inclined slightly upward with respect to the drum and the position S'iia, whereas the belts 22; continue in a horizontal plane and consequently fml away from the tube units. The belt 32 is thus elevated into engagement with the tubes at the instant they leave the position Ella.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the belt 32 is inclined laterally to the left with respect to the axis of t'-e drum and consequently opposite to the belts 28. As a result, upon engaging a tube 15%, the belt 32 immediately shifts the tube laterally to the left, pulling it free of its tip forming element 84. The tube, now free of the 6 drum, falls onto the surface of the belts 2S and 32 and is rapidly impelled away from the machine into a suitable collection device.

Operation Reviewing briefly the operation of the machine, drinking straws or other tubular items which have been previously cut to desired lengths, are fed to the hopper 52 at the feed station. The individual straw units, indicated at 59, are fed through the lower opening 54 of the hopper against the surface of the drum where they are engaged within the laterally extending grooves 45. Individual straws are carried in succession by the grooves 46 down between the drum and the guide elements of passing out of the hopper against the restrainin influence of the oppositely rotating brush elements 40. The latter insures that the hopper feeds one straw at a time to the grooves 46 of the drum.

Stepwise rotation of the drum on its supporting shaft 42 causes the individual units of straw stock to be carried downward between the drum and the guides 64 until they reach the lowermost position 543a. t this point the straw is engaged by the rapidly moving belts 2 5, which are angled or inclined to the direction of rotation of the drum with the result that the straw is urged endwise towards the tip forming means 84 (or 84a) provided at the end of each groove 4d. The elements 84 cause the end wall of the straw to be deformed radially inwardly and to progressively curl upon itself to form an integral concentric inner reinforcing layer 83, as ihustrated in FIGURE 9. Simultaneously with this tip reinforcing operation, rotation of the cams 116 carried by the shaft 34 causes a progressive upward movement of the knife edges 192 of the blades 109, such upward movement progressing from right to left as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2. This consecutive operation of the knives acts to impress a plurality of circumferential score lines on the outer peripheral wall of the straw, which coupled with the axial compression of the straw, serves to collapse the scored portions into a series of corrugations, as illustrated at 116 in FIGURE 9.

At such time as the tip reinforcing and corrugating operations have been completed, the drum 44 advances in another stepwise movement and causes the straw to advance to a position where it is engaged by the belt 32 rather than the belts 28 (FIGURE 4). This produces a lateral shifting of the straw to the left (FIGURE 2) causing the straw to be removed from the tip forming element 84 of the drum and discharged from the machine.

Modified Embodiment For many purposes, it is desirable that both ends of a tubular device be reinforced. Apparatus for this purpose is illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 and may be substantially identical to the apparatus previously described except for the provision of additional belt means adapted to cooperate with a second set of tip forming means at the opposite end of the drum 44.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 10, the first set of belt means 128, corresponding to the belt means 28 previously described, are inclined slightly downward and positioned adjacent the drum to permit engagement of the belts with a tube at position 153a just ahead of the lowermost drum position. As viewed in FIGURE 11, the lateral inclina tion of the belts 128 is to the right so that these belts operate to rapidly rotate each successive tube against the tip forming means 184 at the right hand end of the drum when the tubes reach the position 159a.

A second set of belts 130 are additionally provided and are inclined slightly upward with respect to the drum so as to engage the tubes immediately after their release by the belts 128. This relationship is shown in FIGURE 10. FIGURE 11 additionally shows that the belts 13%) are inclined to the left with respect to the lateral axis of the drum and consequently perform a similar operation to the belts 128, rotating the tubes and moving them to the left against the left hand group of tip forming elements: 184a. They also serve to pull the tubes from the right: hand tip forming units 184. A third set of belt means must also be provided to remove the tubes from the left hand tip forming elements 184a and to discharge the completed tubes from the machine. These belts, indicated. at 132, are inclined upward at a greater angle to the drum than the belts 134D and to the right with respect tothe axis of the drum (FIGURE 11). As the sole function of these belts is to discharge the tubes from the machine, their operation is analogous to that of the belts 32 in the machine previously described.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG-- URES l and 11, an individual straw will first be rapidly rotated against the tip forming means 184 at the right. hand of the drum (at position 156a) to form a reinforced. tip 1% on the right hand end of the straw. Thereafter the straw will be laterally shifted to the left and rapidly rotated against the tip forming means 184a at the opposite end of the drum (at position 15%) to form a second. reinforced tip. Finally the straws are moved from the left hand tip forming elements and discharged from the machine by the belts 132. The end product of this proc-- essing, comprising the straw reinforced at both ends, isillustrated in FIGURE 12.

If desired, the apparatus of FIGURES and 11 could be employed in conjunction with flexing apparatus, includ ing knife elements Hi), to form flexible tubes reinforced at either end.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with particular embodiments, it is capable of other variations and modifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a tube reinforcing machine adapted for use with drinking straws, a tube feeding station, a tube reinforcing station, a rotatable drum having means for rotatably holding said tubes at its periphery and relatively movable friction means, said friction means being arranged to engage the periphery of and thereby rotate a tube held on the periphery of said drum and to simultaneously urge said tube axially of said drum, said drum including tube end engaging means secured in the path of axial movement of said tubes and adapted on rotation of the tube to deform the engaged end portions of the tube inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric tube layer, and a discharge station for removing tubes from said drum.

2. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said tubes includes a plurality of axially extending grooves adapted to receive said tubes.

3. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 1 wherein said friction means comprises continuously moving belt means inclined laterally with respect to the axis of said drum and adapted to engage a tube on the periphery of said drum at one position of rotation thereof.

4. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 1 wherein said tube end engaging means comprise shaft means extending radially from the surface of the drum and head means protruding from said shaft means and smoothly contoured into the same.

5. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 4 wherein said head means extend a substantial distance inwardly of said shaft means and in a direction parallel to the axis of said drum.

6. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 1 wherein said discharge station includes additional friction means inclined with respect to the axis of said drum and in a direction to urge tubes axially away from said tube end engaging means, said additional friction means being adapted to engage a tube on the periphery of said drum at a position of rotation subsequent to that at said tube reinforcing station.

7. A tube reinforcing machine adapted for use with drinking straws comprising: a tube feeding station, a tube reinforcing station including a rotatable drum and relatively movable belt means serving to engage and rotate a tube held on the periphery of said drum and to simultaneously urge said tube axially of said drum, said drum including tube end engaging means secured in the path of axial movement of said tubes and adapted on rotation of the tubes to deform the engaged end portion of the tube inwardly upon itself, a tube corrugating station including a plurality of knife means adapted to engage a tube in said tube reinforcing station and to cooperate with the latter to form a plurality of collapsible score lines in the peripheral wall of said tubes, and a discharge station for removing reinforced corrugated tubes from said drum. 8. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 7 wherein said tube corrugating station includes a plurality of consecutively operable cam means adapted to impart successive operation to said plurality of knife means, whereby the continuously moving belt means at said tube reinforcing station serves to collapse the tube wall at each score line to form successive corrugations as the tube is moved axially of the drum.

9. In a tube reinforcing machine wherein lengths of tubing are received one at a time and rotatably carried upon the periphery of an intermittently rotatable drum, means associated with said drum to reinforce the ends of said tubing, said means comprising tube end deforming means immovably positioned on one end of said drum, and friction means adapted to successively engage and rotate the tubes carried by the drum and to simultaneously urge said tube axially into engagement with said deforming means, whereby the engaged end of the tube is deformed inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric tube layer.

10. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 9 wherein said drum is provided with a plurality of axially extending grooves adapted to receive lengths of tubing.

11. A machine as in claim 10 wherein said tube end deforming mean comprises shaft means positioned at an end of each of said grooves and extending radially outward from the surface of the drum, and head means smoothly contoured onto the end of said shaft means and extending in a direction parallel to the grooves.

12. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 9 wherein said friction means includes an endless belt adapted to engage each tube in a particular position of rotation of said drum.

13. In a tube reinforcing machine, a rotatable drum, said drum being provided with a plurality of tube receiving recesses, a hopper positioned above said drum, means on the hopper to dispense one tube at a time to the recesses on said drum, an intermittent motion mechanism adapted to rotate said drum in stepwise fashion, means holding said tubes within the recesses on the surface of the drum, tube end deforming means positioned at the end of each of said tube receiving recesses, and friction means adapted to engage each tube at a particular position of rotation of said drum to thereby rotate the tube in its recess and to simultaneously urge the tube axially of the drum into engagement with said tube end deforming means, whereby the engaged end portion of the tube is deformed inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric reinforcing layer, and discharge means adapted to disengage each tube from the tube end deforming means and to discharge the tubes from the machine.

14. A tube reinforcing machine as in claim 13 wherein said friction means comprises an endless belt inclined laterally with respect to the axis of the drum and urged into engagement with a tube at said position of rotation of the drum.

15. In a tube reinforcing machine, a rotatable drum, said drum being provided with a plurality of tube receiving recesses, a hopper positioned above said drum, means on the hopper to dispense one tube at a time to the recesses on said drum, an intermittent motion mechanism adapted said tubes within the recesses on the surface of the drum,

tube end deforming means positioned at the end of each of said tube receiving recesses, friction means adapted to engage each tube at a position of rotation of said drum to rotate the same in its recess and to simultaneously urge the tube axially of the drum into engagement with said tube end deforming means, whereby the engaged end portion of the tube is deformed inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric reinforcing layer, a plurality of successively operable knife means adapted to engage the tube as it is rotated by said friction means, said knife means forming a succession of score lines on the surface of the tube, said friction means causing the tube to collapse at said score lines to form corrugations as the tube is urged toward said tube end deforming means, and discharge means adapted to disengage and remove each tube from the surface of the drum.

16. In a tube reinforcing machine, adapted for use with drinking straws, a rotatable drum, said drum being provided with a plurality of tube receiving axial recesses, a tube feeding station associated with said drum and adapted to feed one tube at a time to said axial recesses, an intermittent motion mechanism associated with said drum, a tube reinforcing station associated with the drum and including friction means adapted at a particular position of the drum to rotate each tube within its axial recess and to urge the tube endwise therein, said drum being provided with tube end engaging means at the end of each axial recess whereby endwise movement of the tube causes said engaging means to deform the end of the tube inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric reinforcing layer, and a discharge station for disengaging each tube from its axial recess and discharging the same from the drum.

17. In a tube reinforcing and corrugating machine adapted for use with drinking straws, a rotatable drum, said drum being provided with a plurality of tube receiving axial recesses, a tube feeding station associated with said drum and adapted to feed one tube at a time to said axial recesses, an intermittent motion mechanism associated with said drum, a tube reinforcing station associated with the drum and including friction means adapted at a particular position of the drum to rotate each tube within its axial recess and to urge the tube endwise therein, said drum being provided with tube end engaging means at the end of each axial recess whereby endwise movement of the tube causes said engaging means to deform the end or" the tube inwardly upon itself to form an inner concentric reinforcing layer, a corrugating station including a plurality of concentrically operable knives, said knives acting to engage the tube as it is r0- tated in said tube reinforcing station to form a plurality of corrugations in the surface of the tube, and a discharge station adapted to disengage each tube from its axial recess and to discharge the same from the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,950 Ware July 23, 1907 1,444,096 Beadle Feb. 6, 1923 2,631,645 Friedman Mar. 17, 1953 2,803,176 Gazette Aug. 20, 1957 2,985,077 Strahammer et al May 23, 1961 

1. IN A TUBE REINFORCING MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE WITH DRINKING STRAWS, A TUBE FEEDING STATION, A TUBE REINFORCING STATION, A ROTATABLE DRUM HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY HOLDING SAID TUBES AT ITS PERIPHERY AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE FRICTION MEANS, SAID FRICTION MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO ENGAGE THE PERIPHERY OF AND THEREBY ROTATE A TUBE HELD ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY URGE SAID TUBE AXIALLY OF SAID DRUM, SAID DRUM INCLUDING TUBE END ENGAGING MEANS SECURED IN THE PATH OF AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TUBES AND ADAPTED ON ROTATION OF THE TUBE TO DEFORM THE ENGAGED END PORTIONS OF THE TUBE INWARDLY UPON ITSELF TO FORM AN INNER CONCENTRIC TUBE LAYER, AND A DISCHARGE STATION FOR REMOVING TUBES FROM SAID DRUM. 